Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-12-15
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Is There a Native Truffle7

equals or parallels on this side that it
is no more than logical to think that
we may have a native truf1le, and not
at all unreason able or Improbable
that endeavors should be made to find
it. To be sure we hear that native
but inferior black truffle has been
found in Western and Southwestern
Louisiana in the vicinity of Opelousas,
in the Attackapas country, and on the
Red river, in the neighborhood OF
Natchitoches. That this should be the
chosen habitat of the native truffle in
preference to regions farther east and
north is natural, because the truflle is
a production of warm, if not hot,
climates, and is rarely if ever found in
regions where there is any thing like
killing and continued frosts. And, be-
sides, though the mystery that shrouds
the reproduction of the truffle has
been mystery for thousand years,
it is worth while to consider whether
the French emigrant Catholic fathers
of that region might not have brought,
unknown to them of course, the
mycelium of the truffie to the New
World. That it should have changed
in its character and, perhaps. lost
some of the excellence of the parent is
not surprising after two or three CEN
turtles of fighting for life in the New
World; nor is it singular that it should
have fourished in the region of the
Red river for hundred years without
being heard from. But if there is
really a native truflle it will probably,
If anywhere, be found in that wonder
fully richly endowed State, North
Carolina, the native trees and vege-
table productions of which are equal
to any other half dozen States of the
Union.
In Perigord France). lie Querey
and Angoumais, where the production
of truffles is of much Importance, the
general belief is that there is an init
mate connection between it and the
pubescent or hairy oak. In the de-
partments of Vaucluse and the Lower
Alps the same intimate relation be-
tween the two is recognized, but at the
same time the evergreen oak enjoys
q like distinction. In the latter de-
partment the pubescent is called the
white oak, and there is considerable
close resemblance between our white
oak for the one and our live oak
for the other If it be established that
two species of oak favor the develop
ment of The trutfle, and that in their
neighborhood and under their shelter
the most productive beds are found,
they are far from being the only trees
that can claim that high reputation.
Forty other species OF trees are believed
TO have direct influence on the pro-
duction, chief among which are the
elm, filbert three unnamed species of
oak, the ash, linn, birch and the three
common pines. In presence of these
facts it is probably true that the
variety of tree has little to do with the
propagation and production of the
tuber beyond preparing the ground
for it.
After trees, and there are no beds
of truffles without trees, the pre-
dominant influence on truffle produc-
ton is limestone or calcareous soil.
Thus the truffle beds of Perigord. LIE
Querey, ETC.. are on calcareous land of
jurassic formation, and the best beds
of the Southeast are situated on similar
lands. 1t is also worthy of remark
that the soil of the most renowned
beds contains carbonate of lime, sand
clay, oxide of iron, the phosphates and
certain alkalies, with tritle of Or
ganic matter. The presence of lime
stone does not seem to have sensible
influence on the quality of the truffle.
But the oxides of iron play an i'm
portant part and their presence is in
dispensable to its production and high
quality. 1t is certain that the best
truffles are gathered from soils colored
by sesquioxide or peroxide of iron.
Truffles are never found where
there is an impermeable soil or sub.
soil. 1t is also observed that forests
where truffies are found have warn
southern exposure. The truffle is
never found in cool or cold climates,
nor in very hot ones. The truff1e beds
are nearly always found on the clear
ings on hillsides and on elevated leve
land; they are almost unknown il
valleys. But this is fact character
istic of truffle beds: The disappear
ance of all species of vegetation ON tn,
surface of the ground where the
truffles are in the course of develop
ment; their absence during the tint
The truffies occupy the land and the re
appearance of vegetation just as soor
as the truffles have given out" Thes,
indications render it easy to recogniz,
where the truffle is to be found il
Continental Europe, and will probabl,
be safe guide to follow in hunting
for it in clearings of the forest and OF
tho banks of the Red river in Louis
iana in the openings on the hillside
and plateaus of southern aspect il
Middle and Southern North Carolina
and. we may safely add, on sinila
soils in like situation in the mount
ainous regions of South Carolina
: Georgia and Tennessee.
9 Bees and Fruit.